AMBASSADOR RAISES NAM STATEMENT ON IRAN STATEMENT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L KINGSTON 001117 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT),IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL UNSC AORC IAEA KNNP IR JM SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES NAM STATEMENT ON IRAN STATEMENT, GUATEMALA UNSC CANDIDACY, WITH FOREIGN MINISTER HYLTON REF: A. KINGSTON 1097 ¶B. STATE 86256 ¶C. KINGSTON 1064 ¶D. STATE 89325 Classified By: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange Johnson. Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On June 5, the Ambassador called on Foreign Minister Anthony Hylton to follow up on Guatemala's candidacy for a UNSC seat (Ref A),and to express disappointment with the recent NAM statement on Iran (Ref C). On Guatemala/UNSC, Hylton denied that Jamaica or CARICOM had yet decided how to vote, although Guatemala's territorial dispute with Belize "poses a particular hurdle" to supporting Guatemala's candidacy. On Iran/NAM, Hylton professed that he had worked "doggedly" behind the scenes in Malaysia to effect a balanced statement, that the final text was considerably improved from drafts, and that in the end, he decided not to issue a statement like Singapore. Hylton had nothing to say about Iran's history of deception of IAEA inspectors, or of Tehran's belligerent remarks about Israel, but he opined that USG policy toward Israel under the NPT is "inconsistent." End Summary. -------------- GUATEMALA/UNSC CANDIDACY -------------- ¶2. (C) Following up on her May 30 meeting with the Prime Minister (Ref A),the Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Anthony Hylton on June 5 to press the GOJ to support Guatemala's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC). She opened by reminding Hylton that he had told the Secretary during their April 14 meeting in Washington that Venezuela should not assume Jamaican support in such matters. While the USG understands the importance of sovereignty to the GOJ, she continued, GOJ support on issues of importance to the USG in multilateral fora is often lacking. ¶3. (C) Hylton replied that "Jamaica pursues a mature and independent foreign policy." He reiterated that the GOV cannot assume Jamaican support. Jamaica, he said, must look at the merits of an issue and vote accordingly. "As a small country, our best interests are served by a quote principled position unquote, he said. "This is the policy I have inherited. We have good relations with Venezuela and excellent ties with the U.S. There are issues on which we'd like the U.S. support and don't get it." According to Hylton, Guatemala's territorial dispute with Belize "poses a particular hurdle" to GOJ support for Guatemala's UNSC candidacy. He described Belize as "extremely concerned by the clear and present danger to Belize" posed by Guatemala. He stated that neither Jamaica nor CARICOM had decided how they would vote. The Ambassador noted that there had been progress toward resolution of the dispute. Without addressing the point, Hylton said that USG engagement would be helpful to resolving the problem. The Ambassador asked Hylton to re-confirm his statement that neither Jamaica nor CARICOM had decided; the Minister did so. -------------- NAM STATEMENT ON IRAN -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador next raised the issue of the NAM's unbalanced statement on Iran (Ref C). Noting that Hylton had just returned from the NAM Ministerial in Kuala Lumpur, she told him that "we're unhappy with the text of the statement," which, she continued, had not accurately reflected the situation. Somewhat smugly, Hylton replied, "Despite extensive U.S. intelligence capabilities - except, as we have seen, in Iraq - I'm afraid you've heard it wrong from the NAM." In face, he countered, "Jamaica fought doggedly for a balanced statement." The final text, he maintained, had been "toned down" thanks in part to behind-the-scenes Jamaican intervention. Reminded that Singapore had issued an Explanation of Vote expressing disappointment at the final statement, Hylton replied that Jamaica had chosen not to do so. He expressed concern that oil prices would continue to rise absent a peaceful resolution to the impasse. The Foreign Minister further stated that Jamaica has no interest in acquiring nuclear weapons; accordingly, the GOJ considers it important that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) not be violated. In that vein, he contended, "the U.S. line is inconsistent" vis-a-vis Israel and the NPT. He said that Jamaica and other "friendly" countries would be better able to press Iran on nuclear issues if the U.S. would press Israel. P/E Counselor reminded the Minister of the Iranian president's recent public statement about wiping Israel off the face of the map, and asked whether Israel was a signatory to the NPT. Hylton conceded that Israel was not. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶5. (C) This was a cordial but unsatisfactory meeting. The importance of Jamaica's sovereignty and the GOJ's "principled positions" vis-a-vis U.S. positions in foreign policy matters are hardwired into (and regularly professed with a frequency that can seem almost robotic by) Hylton, former PM Patterson and nearly all senior GOJ officials with whom we deal. The GOJ seems unlikely to support Guatemala's candidacy, and the border dispute with Belize offers them cover. (Looking further afield than Guatemala and Venezuela, is there a potential GRULAC candidate that Jamaica/CARICOM and the USG could agree to support?) ¶6. (C) Comment (cont'd): We cannot say from here what Hylton may or may not have done in Malaysia to effect a more balanced statement on Iran, but we have seen little indication of a GOJ willingness to stick its neck out and adopt a "principled position" if doing so is likely to cause ripples among NAM states. Hylton may have concluded that Jamaica has less to worry about by voting against U.S. positions on key issues than by displeasing the NAM (or certain members thereof). If so, perhaps we should give him pause to reconsider that view at an appropriate time. JOHNSON